Departing for South America

We Leave!January 10th, 2015

The big day is here - we are on our way to South America

Travelling Outlaws

We are from Lafayette, Colorado (near Boulder) and have lived here for 20 years. For years we have been telling each other - that we need to get out of the "Boulder Bubble" and let the kids experience the world. Discovering how to re-pot yourself from what you are today into what you will be tomorrow. When we sat down and realized that the kids are the perfect age, work is conveniently perfect for us to do this, the schools will let us go, we decided to move forward with a plan. Plans ranged from buy a sailboat for 6 months and cruise the Carribean to wandering Europe. Then reality sits in - you only have six months - you have two children - you have pets - a house - 3 cars - family - work - lives in place. So what do you do? You start figuring it all out.

– a family journey

Scouting in action: real world first aid merit badge in peru

A short blog post to follow up on Gavin’s post, as I forgot to write about this. One of the things that we did before the trip was built a first aid kit, which I get poked at on our trip for having too much stuff. We have used some of it, but it was really designed for a what if scenario where we were hurt. Well while driving the other day to our current location in Huaraz we drive past a car that has flipped, and cars are just beginning to pull over. We slowed down, did a u turn and drove up to the crash site. First thing off the car, the first aid kit. I’m no doctor, nor paramedic, but I can say that we knew what to do- at least in making sure folks were ok until real help arrived.

my bright orange first aid kit. we were the only people with first aid supplies

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hayden stopping bleeding on lady in the back

Here’s the thing about this post and about all of this. We do scouts because we like it, but also because it teaches real world skills. Hayden has his first aid merit badge, and Gavin is a new scout, having just crossed over. We all jumped out of the car and we’re ready to help. I had surgical gloves in my kit, grabbed them and started checking on passengers. There were three, a driver and two ladies in the back seat. I needed help, and Hayden came over and helped out. Gave him a pair of gloves and some gauze pads to hold on the First Lady in the back seat who’s head was bleeding. The great thing was that he knew what to do. He also helped diagnose that the driver probably had broken ribs and was in shock. The driver was making phone calls while sitting in the front seat, even though he had major cuts on both hands. I tried to give him some gauze to hold on, but he didn’t take it and let his hand bleed. It wasn’t bad and he was alert so let him do his thing. The other lady in the back had a huge lump on her head but was ok. We stopped the bleeding, made sure everyone was ok and then paramedics arrived about fifteen minutes later. The boys came up to me at one point ready to make a stretcher.

It’s one of those proud parent moments that you have kids that are willing to help… Not afraid to stick their head into a crashed car and do the right thing. As for my first aid kit… It did a great job, and we still have glow sticks, survival food, safety sleeping bags, tape, scissors, gloves, wound sealant and more… The three passengers, after car totaled were basically fine, some minor cuts and bumps on he head, but it could have been much much worse.

How exciting to read about your trip, especially from Hayden and Gavin’s point of view. Really enjoyed reading about helping the injured family and how Scouts teaches you life skills that contribute to making the world a better place. Keep Scouting – there are so many more cool life experiences ahead of you!!!
Doug